Learning Lebanese Recipe....confused

[Mamasue]

I am half way reading the October issue and came to the section Learning Lebanese. The recipe Marinated Roast Chicken with Garlic Dip sounds confusing to me. Is it me...hitting my head....does it make sense to anyone else!

In the first paragraph of directions is says to spoon yogurt onto several layers of heavy-duty paper towels, etc. Why would you spread yogurt on paper towels and then scrape off? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif

[Ohioan]

What you're doing is thickening the yogurt by draining out some of the moisture.

Phoebe

[Mamasue]

Pheobe...I feel so dumb, but wouldn't the paper towels get soggy and shred when scraped off? I want to try this recipe but this step didn't make sense to me, maybe because I never heard of it before. I guess its never to late to learn something even when you are 50+! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

Thanks for your help! You are the best! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[sneezles]

Mamasue
Never have used the paper towel method as I had an aversion to it just like you but the coffee filter method seems to work very well. And there is always cheesecloth but I can never seem to have any on hand when I really need it!

[Mamasue]

Thanks sneezles! I have coffee filters and just used the last of my cheesecloth. I will feel more comfortable with your suggestions. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Vanessa]

Mamasue
I don't have Oct issue yet but it sounds as they are making yogurt cheese by removing the whey (liquid) in the yogurt. You can use cheesecloth a yogurt cheese maker or yes a coffee filter. If the recipe relates to this.
http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Grace]

Mamasue,

There is also a thing called the "Yogurt Wave" - it's a "W" shaped mesh strainer that sits inside a plastic container with a plastic lid. You spoon the yogurt into the strainer, and leave it in the fridge for several hours or overnight (depending on how thick you want it). The whey strains out into the plastic container, and your left with yogurt cheese, which I make every week and use for many, many things (you can spread it like cream cheese - flavor it with garlic and chives, use it in place of sour cream, the list is endless, and it's perfect for Tsatziki - greek dip). Anyhow, the paper towel method I have used on occasion in a pinch, and what happens is the paper towels absorb the whey out of the yogurt. When you scrape it off, the paper does not usually shred, but it's messy and I inevitably get it all over the place. I like the strainer better. I have never tried the coffee filter, but would imagine it would work wonderfully, and I will probably use that method if I'm ever in a pinch for some yogurt cheese again! Oh, and yogurt cheese also makes GREAT cheesecakes!! They require a special method of mixing and baking, but if you're really interested in low/no fat foods, they really are good! I have a yogurt cheese cookbook with lots of good recipes....

Grace

[Mamasue]

http://www.millan.net/anims/giffar/starsnrose.gif

You guys are the best! I learned something new today and so glad I asked here. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Grace...thank you also for all your ideas to use yogurt. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[doggerham]

Just to let you know, I have used the paper towel method and it works just fine. One of the summer's recipies for Confetti Chicken Salad had you use this technique. I think the only trick is to use several layers, and not to use cheap towels. I just scrape it off with a large rubber scraper.

By doing it on the toweling for 10-15 minutes, it thickens the consistency of the yogurt, but not to the point of yogurt cheese, which, to me, is done by draining overnight to get a fairly solid product.

Amy

[SandyDee]

Hi Sue, Looks like everyone covered it for you. I have a yogurt strainer that I use but I have also used the cheesecloth and that works really well. I have never tried the coffee filter method. Let me know if that works. The result of draining the yogurt is called yogurt cheese. It is called for in several recipes that I have. Happy cooking. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif by the way, loved the rose!!

[This message has been edited by SandyDee (edited 09-25-2000).]

[JeanneW]

Mamasue,

Have to put in my .02. I was skeptical of the paper towel method but I have to admit it works beautifully. I don't know why the yogurt is easily scraped off the paper towels but it is. Good luck.